Open data

FAQ on open data

Who is open data for?

The main purpose of the PRH open data is to enable you to retrieve and then process the data in other applications or systems. You can run selections or use PRH open data as data content in your services.

Please note that if you are just an occasional user, it is easier to make searches using the Finnish Trade Register's published entries search or the BIS Search than using this service.

Why are data made open?

Open data speed up the use of data, and help you to develop new services and businesses. You can combine various types of data in your services. Here are some possible uses:

you can run selections

you can link your online shop to open data to check whether a customer has registered for VAT, or

you can produce new services from open data.

Are there any disadvantages of open data?

Open data may have negative effects - information service providers may have varying kinds of information about the same company, even data that is out-of-date, depending on how often the service providers update their databases. Some company directory services update their data by phone for a fee. Businesses must therefore be very careful in updating their information for such purposes.

The PRH is not liable for the data content of directory services provided by other parties even if the PRH open data have been quoted as the source of information. We recommend that you contact the service provider and ask them to remove data that are out-of-date.

When are PRH open data available?

The technical interface in this service can be used 24/7 every day of the year. The data are updated once a day, and include updates made the day before.

You use the open data interface at your own risk. The PRH provides the interface 'as is' without guarantee of any kind, and it is not liable for the operation of applications using the interface. The PRH undertakes technical maintenance and provides technical support during office hours.

Open data glossary

Open data: Open data can be reused freely by anyone, in a machine-readable format, and without paying any fee.

Open information resources: Open information resources mean that public data are provided in a machine-readable format freely available for reuse. Note that this does not apply to confidential data or if the use of data is restricted by law. Researchers or authorities may also get restricted access to information resources, but that is not open data in the true sense of the word.

Reuse of data: Reuse of data means that natural or legal persons use public sector documents for commercial or non-commercial purposes that are different from the original public purpose for which the documents were originally produced. In practice, reuse of data means that data are being combined with other data contents, or other contents, or that new services are being produced from the data.

API: Application programming interface, API, is a specification for how software can make requests and communicate with each other.